Biotechnology

The Degree

Associate in Science (A.S.)

The Outlook

From altering the genetic information of plants and animals to producing cells to create pharmaceutical products, the science of biotechnology is using cutting-edge technology and the basic ingredients of life to benefit society. Students can participate in what many consider to be the most important applied science of the 21st century through the biotechnology degree program at Finger Lakes Community College.

Career opportunities in biotechnology are diverse and intriguing, including areas such as cloning, forensics, bio-engineered food, and more. According to a recent survey funded by the Empire State Development Corporation, most biotech employers in the region expect continued growth. In fact, 88 percent reported that they anticipate hiring new employees to keep up with industry demands.

 

The Program

Biotechnology, an associate in science (A.S.) degree program, is designed to prepare students either to transfer to a four-year institution as a biotechnology or biology major or to develop marketable skills as they prepare to enter this dynamic job market.

Skills and Methods: Courses in the program focus on skill development in the following areas:

Genetic Research Techniques

  • Cloning
  • Protein separation methods
  • Hydrophobic Interaction Chromatography
  • Size exclusion chromatography
  • Ion-exchange chromatography
  • Bioinformatics

Cell Tissue and Culture

  • Culture equipment and safety
  • Sterile and aseptic technique
  • Media preparation and the culture environment
  • Quantitative methods (cell count/viability)
  • Cryopreservation
  • Primary cell culture techniques
  • Subculturing techniques
  • Cell differentiation
  • Applied techniques (transfection, histochem)

Electrophoresis

  • Principles of PAGE and agarose electrophoresis
  • Electrophoresis equipment and operation
  • Formal laboratory report writing
  • Micropipetting technique
  • Gel preparation (pour, load, and process)
  • Calculation of molecular weights from gels
  • Gel photography and image analysis
  • Restriction enzyme digests
  • Restriction mapping

Genetics Laboratory

  • Mendelian Genetics and crosses
  • Cloning techniques (restriction digestion, ligation, transformation)
  • PCR applications
  • PCR primer design
  • DNA fingerprinting
  • DNA isolation
  • Quantitative DNA applications
  • Bioinformatics

Bacteriological Methods

  • Laboratory safety
  • Sterile technique
  • Selective and differential media
  • Plaque assay
  • Microscopy
  • Media preparation
  • Culture techniques
  • Reagent and stain preparation
  • Bacterial conjugation and transformation

Facilities: Facilities for the program include a fully equipped instrument lab, extensive spectrophotometric resources, cell culture and cryogenic equipment, and enough electrophoresis equipment to ensure that every student has the opportunity to work with his or her own gel box.

The Experience

Research: Under the guidance of faculty members, students will have the opportunity to participate in undergraduate research projects, collecting samples in the field and processing the DNA information in the College lab.

Honors Courses: In addition, the College offers honors courses that provide enhanced educational experiences for students who have demonstrated outstanding academic ability. Enrollment in honors courses is open to qualified students in this degree program, as well as all other qualified FLCC students. Successful completion of honors courses or an Honors Certificate may increase student transfer options to four-year institutions.

Resources: Students will benefit from FLCC's connection to Bio-Link, which is affiliated with Biotechnology Industry Organization. Bio-Link is an advanced technological education center, funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF), to enhance and expand biotechnology education programs. Bio-Link will serve as an educational resource for FLCC students as well as a network for employment opportunities.

The National Science Foundation recently established the Northeast Biomanufacturing Center and Collaborative. FLCC will be the lead institution for the New York hub of this regional center designed to support biomanufacturing in the northeast United States. This relationship will provide unique opportunities for FLCC Biotechnology students. For more information, visit www.bio-link.org and www.biomanufacturing.org.

The Graduates

With the hands-on experience and lab skills they will gain at FLCC, students will be well prepared to transfer with junior standing to four-year colleges and universities that offer biotechnology-related bachelor's degrees such as University of Rochester (biology and molecular genetics), Cornell University (biology), Buffalo State (biology) SUNY Brockport (biological sciences), SUNY Fredonia (recombinant gene technology), and others.

In addition, FLCC holds an articulation agreement with Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) that guarantees qualified students entrance as full juniors into their bachelor of science biotechnology program, considered by many to be one of the strongest programs of its kind on the East Coast. Students can also explore co-op opportunities when they're seniors at RIT.

Careers and Salary: Upon completion of a four-year degree, graduates are qualified to fill jobs as lab assistants, research assistants or associates, quality control analysts, technologists, clinical data specialists, chemists, microbiologists, animal technicians, or manufacturing associates. According to the United States Department of Labor, the annual salaries for biotechnicians range from $26,900 to $46,800 or more.

With a two-year degree in biotechnology, graduates can expect positions as quality control technicians, instrumentation technicians, laboratory technicians, or research assistants. Graduates can expect salaries of $28,000 to $38,000, according to Bio-Link, a national consortium of biotechnology educators.

The Scholarships

Students who meet specific criteria may apply for a number of scholarships including the Murray G. Gardner Memorial Scholarship, Bill Parham Memorial Scholarship, ExxonMobil Science Scholarships, Cliftronics Excellence Scholarship, and the G.W. Lisk Excellence Scholarship. For details, contact the FLCC Financial Aid Office.

Biotechnology

Curriculum Requirements

Students are required to complete a minimum of 67 semester hours for this degree program. The recommended math sequence of MAT 152 (Pre Calculus) and MAT 271 (Calculus I) would lead to 68 hours (see sample schedule). It is strongly recommended that students planning to transfer to a four-year institution complete a sequence in Organic Chemistry (CHM 211, 212).

All associate degree programs require English 101 Freshman English and English 102 Introduction to Literature. Students must pass skills assessment for entrance into these courses. Students who are well prepared may substitute ENG 104 English I Honors and ENG 105 English II Honors for ENG101 and ENG102. Students who are considering the English Honors sequence should consult the Director of Honors.

Students must successfully complete:

Humanities

  • ENG101 Freshman English and ENG 102 Introduction to Literature
    or
    ENG104 English I Honors and ENG105 English II Honors
  • COM 110 Public Speaking

Social Science

  • HIS elective
  • 6 credit hours of social science electives

Mathematics

  • MAT 151 Trigonometry and MAT 152 Pre-Calculus
    OR
    MAT 152 Pre-Calculus* and MAT 271 Calculus I*
    *recommended math sequence

Science

  • BIO 121 General Biology I
  • BIO 122 General Biology II
  • BIO 222 Cell Biology
  • BIO 230 Microbiology
  • BIO 240 Principles of Genetics
  • BIO 241 Principles of Genetics Lab
  • BIO 282 Microbiological Techniques
  • BIO 283 Electrophoresis
  • BIO 284 Genetics Research Techniques
  • BIO 286 Cell and Tissue Culture
  • CHM 121 General Chemistry I
  • CHM 122 General Chemistry II

Information Management

  • CSC 134 Core Word
  • CSC 135 Core Excel
  • CSC 136 Power Point

Health/Physical Education

  • 4 credit hours of health/physical education electives

General Electives

  • 4-10 credits (The required credit hours must be made up of approved electives. See sample schedule)

Students who are transferring to four-year institutions should follow the general education course requirements for transfer to SUNY and non-SUNY schools. *See general education requirements page for more details

Biotechnology

Sample Schedule

First Semester (18 Credit Hours)

  • ENG 101 or ENG 104 Freshman English (3)
  • BIO 121 General Biology I (4)
  • CHM 121 General Chemistry I (4)
  • MAT 152 Pre-Calculus (3)
  • CSC 134/135/136 Core Word/Core Excel/Powerpoint (3)
  • PE Health/Physical Education Elective (1)

Second Semester (19 Credit Hours)

  • ENG 102 or ENG 105 Introduction to Literature (3)
  • BIO 122 General Biology II (4)
  • BIO 240 Principles of Genetics (3)
  • BIO 241 Laboratory in Genetics (1)
  • CHM 122 General Chemistry II (4)
  • MAT 271 Calculus I (4)

Third Semester(16/18 Credit Hours)

  • BIO 222 Intro to Cell Biology (3)
  • BIO 230 Microbiology (4)
  • BIO 282 Bacteriological Methods (1)
  • BIO 283 Electrophoresis (2)
  • HIS History Elective (3)
  • General Electives*3/5

Fourth Semester(15/19 Credit Hours)

  • COM 110 Public Speaking (3)
  • BIO 284 Genetics Research Techniques (1)
  • BIO 286 Cell and Tissue Culture (1)
  • Social Science Electives**6
  • PE Health/Physical Education Elective*** (3)
  • General Electives****1/5

* In the third semester, it is strongly recommended that students take CHM 211 Organic Chemistry I, if planning to transfer to a four-year institution.

** In the fourth semester, students must complete one social science course that meets one of the following three competencies not met by the HIS elective: US History, Western Civilization, Other world/Non-western civilization.

*** In the fourth Semester, it is recommended that students take PE 214 First Aid, if planning to enter the job market. If planning to transfer, the three credits of PE could be spread out across the first, third, and fourth semesters.

**** In the fourth Semester, it is strongly recommended that students take CHM 212 Organic Chemistry II, if planning to transfer to a four-year institution.